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Entries from September 2011

Without a doubt, Elizabeth Taylor is one of the most memorable glamour girls of our time. Her natural beauty was only magnified when she wore her lavish jewelry. Her collection of divine diamonds and breathtaking jewels only grew with each new man in her life. We remember Elizabeth Taylor’s life through the stories behind her most treasured accessories. Let’s take a journey through some of her most unforgettable pieces.

The Taylor-Burton Diamond
Probably the most famous of Taylor’s, this 69.42-karat diamond from Cartier was given to Elizabeth from her fifth husband, Cleopatra co-star Richard Burton, in 1969. When the original owner decided to let someone else own it, the diamond was then re-named after the pair.

The Krupp Diamond
This 33.19-karat piece mounted in a ring is another gift from Richard Burton, bought for $305,000 in 1968. It soon became one of Taylor’s favorite pieces. She wore it almost every day, and it was even animated onto her character when she made a guest appearance on The Simpsons.

La Peregina
Before Elizabeth Taylor owned this teardrop-shaped pearl, it was once the property of both Anne Boelyn and Queen Mary Tudor of England. This stunning pearl is worth between $2 million and $3 million today. Richard Burton bought it at an auction in 1969 for $37,000, outbidding a member of the Spanish Royal family. It’s one of the most historical pearls in the world, but was almost eaten by one of Taylor’s dogs.

Antique diamond tiara
This gift from third husband Mike Todd has an estimated value of $60,000 to $80,000. He presented it to Taylor saying, “You are my queen.” Taylor famously wore it to the 1957 Academy Awards, where Todd’s film Around the World in 80 Days won for Best Picture.

The Taj Mahal necklace
This gold and ruby necklace features as its focal a large, heart-shaped diamond in the center. The heart is inscribed with the name Nur Jahan, wife of Mugal Emporer Shah Jahangir. It is said that the Emporer’s son Shah Jahan presented it to his most beloved wife Mumtaz-i-Mahal, who also inspired the Taj Mahal. Taylor inherited this gem after husband Richard Burton bought it for her as a 40th birthday present.

Some of Elizabeth Taylor’s greatest pieces will be on display around the world starting this month. The exhibit will include stops in LA, Moscow, London, Dubai, Geneva, Paris and Hong Kong. Christie’s auction house is putting on the display which will make its final stop in their headquarters at Rockefeller Center in New York December 3. Her jewelry is then set to be auctioned off for four days, December 13-16. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

Is there another hollywood glamour girl you base your fashion on? Let us know who you think we should do a feature on next!

Create a spooky piece as your Halloween treat with this After Midnight necklace! The intricate focal features a stoneware square pendant with a haunting owl and stitched seed bead borders for added effect. Learn how to make a Halloween necklace that’s full of tricks just in time for the holiday by visiting our Learning Center. You’re sure to be surprised by many of our other Halloween jewelry ideas, all free for you to view complete with detailed instructions and a list of components! Create your own version by browsing for more stoneware pendants that fit your desired theme or head on over to our Halloween page for more fun.

STELLAService, an independent company known around the country for providing consumers with a list of companies with top-rating customer service, has included Artbeads.com in their list of businesses with their STELLAService Elite Seal. They have a network of mystery shoppers who evaluate thousands of different retailers each year in different categories, including shipping, returns and customer support. Since its establishment in 2010, their seal has quickly become the Internet’s most trusted standard for finding outstanding customer service.

Other big companies who made the list were BlueNile.com, Lulus.com and Wine.com among others. We’d like to say Thank You to our wonderful customer service team for their hard work and dedication to satisfying our customers. You’re the best of the best!

Take advantage of our great customer service—available 7 days a week for your convenience. Call them up when you have a beading question or if you’re stuck on a design. We always love to hear from our customers! The number is toll-free at 1.866.715.BEAD (2323)

Every woman has that one piece of jewelry that always makes her sparkle and feel special. We want to know what yours is! What’s your go-to glamour accessory that you can wear and instantly feel fabulous? Is it a versatile pearl necklace? Do you slip on a flirty cocktail ring and suddenly any outfit looks like a million bucks? Leave a comment below telling us what your one piece of jewelry is. We will randomly select four winners to each win a $25 Artbeads gift certificate, and get them one step closer to creating more cool miracle jewelry. Your special idea may just inspire someone else to feel fabulous!

No purchase necessary, must be 18 or older to enter, one entry per person. Odds of winning depend on number of entries. Prizes valued at $25 each, void where prohibited by law. Contest valid in the US and Canada only excluding Quebec. This contest runs from Tuesday, September 27, 2011 and ends Sunday, October 2, 2011 at 11:59PM PT. Contest winners will be announced the next day.

Congratulations to our five winners—Deb S. from South Carolina, Tina R. from California, Tammy O. from West Virginia, and Lisa G. and Sharon S. both from Alabama who have each won a fall-filled goody bag to enjoy. We hope they all have fun with their gifts, which include a Patricia Healey copper pendant. Thanks to everyone who participated in our contest! Stay tuned tomorrow for the unveiling of our next one!

Keep up to date with this season’s coolest trends when you watch our new YouTube video! We break down four of the most popular fall fashion trends for the 2011 season so you can choose which style fits you best. Watch it below! You can also visit our other Artbeads videos on YouTube. Watch helpful how-to tips or fun videos full of Artbeads staff that’ll make you smile!

Here’s a sneak preview of even MORE new Innovations from Swarovski. We’ve already let you in on their latest inspirations and colors, so here’s a closer look at some of the new shapes. Some of these have been touched on already, and others may surprise you! Swarovski’s innovators looked at five particular major cities from around the world for inspiration: Chicago, Copenhagen, Shanghai, Berlin and Istanbul. Each touches on one of the key elements to Fall and Winter trends. Take a look at some of the highlighted innovations below.

Oval Bead (Art. 5050)
Revive your love for the city with an old favorite. This oval bead’s retro feel creates a scaled-down interpretation of deco and nouveau architecture found in the rubbles of urban environments. It has a classic beauty, which is respected and easy to use in a number of growing trends, yet has been twisted just enough to have modern flair. It’s ideal for jewelry designs, including bracelets, necklaces and earrings.

Rhombus Pendant (Art. 6320)
The graphic geometric trend is growing, and the new Rhombus pendant is aiding in the versatility of this look in jewelry. The key strength to this piece is its minimalist elements. It’s a simple concept, taken from the bold innovations of the 1940s and updated to fit into current trends. The availability of sizes allows this pendant to be turned into vintage-style chandelier earrings or a focal in an elegant necklace.

Graphic Pendant (Art. 6685)
The mysterious, almost non-shaped shape of the Graphic Pendant is a great interpretation of the fashion world’s current obsession with androgyny. The need to find unisex elements is met with this component meant to be used in both active and casual looks. The modern twist on a classic idea is what makes this component a must-have for the Fall 2012/Winter 2013 season.

Wild Heart Bead (5743)
This new interpretation of an old shape hopes to evoke wild spirits that hide in all of us. This Wild Heart Bead features sharp angles and asymmetrical facets, complete with a diagonal hole. Its elongated shape offers a more rock ‘n’ roll feeling, perfect for pairing with bold colors or contrasting with soft shades for a trendy androgynous look. You can show some love to your wild side with this new bead coming soon!

Helix Pendant (Art. 6685)
Elegance has never looked so chic! The new Helix Pendant offers all-around faceting and a delicate drop shape. The high brilliance captures the eye quickly, while the sharp curves keeps it focused. Its slightly organic feel paired with versatility make this one of the coolest new Innovations.

Be sure to check our home page frequently as we continue to add new innovations to our collection of Swarovski crystals!

Shape up for football season by glamming up your wardrobe. This sports fan jewelry set includes two necklaces, a bracelet and a pair of earrings. Each one incorporates fun football components including sterling silver charms and alphabet beads. You’re sure to bring on the team spirit with your jewelry. Make a set for all of your favorite football fans and let everyone in on the action! Use your favorite team colors to make these pieces your own, too. You can even make jewelry for every sport, whether you prefer hockey, baseball or dog sledding! We’ve listed below team colors for both the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League to get you started.

Dust off your dancing boots and get ready to boot-scoot and boogey before the month is over! Along with other great holidays, September is International Square Dance Month, and to celebrate we’re spotlighting some great jewelry components and ideas you can use.

Square dancing was brought to the United States by English, Irish and Scottish settlers. It’s a great form of exercise and is fun, too! If you want to show you’re a little bit country, stuff your bead box with lots of leather and lace. Gingham patterns in bright reds and blues make great accent pieces to celebrate the square dancing style. You can also bring country western charm to jewelry with our collection of sterling silver charms with a western theme. Get the look of a real rhinestone cowboy by decorating an ascot with Swarovski flatbacks, or add small touches of sparkle to your skirts and dancing shoes.

Congratulations to the three winners of Perles et Dent’Elles contest. Their contest was based on the movie Dances with Wolves, and entrants were instructed to design a necklace using seed beads with a Peyote stitch.

Alise from Belarus took the top spot…

Alema from Russia came in second…

…and in third place was Zhukis from Latvia.

All of them had beautiful designs.

Four international judges examined each of the 29 entries to determine the top three winners. Thank you to the four judges, Zoya Gutina, Coco 006, Laulo, and Peetja, for their participation and hard work on this contest. You can view all of the entries on the Perles & Dent’elles website, listed in three different languages.